First Ride: A Motorcycle Film

Do you remember the first time you rode a motorcycle? Your first bike? That magical moment became a lifetime memory.

Kids today are not discovering motorcycles at the rate their parents and grandparents did. The motorcycle industry needs new riders. The dealerships need more youth coming in their doors and the local race tracks need more kids signing up to compete.

When the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame asked for a video to kick off the Class of 2018 ceremony, I pitched a concept that aimed to inspire a future hall of famer rather than celebrate the present inductees

“First Ride” acts out the imagination of one boy discovering motorcycles. One child whose life is forever changed.

Film Info and Fun Facts

Three different farms in Mt. Airy, Maryland provided the perfect early November backdrop for filming, which happened on the final day of daylight saving time.

The Honda XR75 used in the video came from Donnie Smith via Fredericktown Yamaha. So much can go wrong with video equipment and I wanted a bulletproof XR75. I didn’t have to worry about a bike that wouldn’t start.

The boy, Caden, races motocross in the Mid-Atlantic and Dennis is his real grandfather. Fun fact: at the 1989 Amateur Motocross National Championships at Loretta Lynn’s, I finished 14th place in the 65cc 7-11 class. A Cecil “Denny” Williams finished 13th. That’s Caden’s father. We didn’t know each other until the Riley family of Fredericktown introduced us for this project. Small world.

At the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame ceremony, the videos of the class of 2018 followed, including Nicky Hayden’s. To see the rest of the videos, visit the AMA’s YouTube page.

2 Comments

Today is my 70th birthday, and you gave me the greatest present that I can imagine. I am still riding and racing (MX, WORCS, enduro, hare scrambles), and will until the day I die. My son rides, races, and is in the industry. My grandson is continuing the legacy. God Bless you for this wonderful gift to all of us, the feelings that it brings back to all of us, and the message that it sends. Don’t stop sending the message. Now, I am going riding!

Ron Lechien deserves a spot in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. With voting for the class of 2019 beginning this month, We Went Fast makes the case for Lechien, aka "The Machine", aka "The Dogger".
This profile focuses on his talent, accomplishments and especially the magical year of 1983 when the 16-year-old kid from El Cajon regularly beat the best.